Combined potato cutter and planter.



No.' 860,493. PATENTED JULY 16,190'7.

J. J. PUTNBY.

COMBINED POTATO CUTTER ANDKPLANTER.

Arrmoulon Hmm mao. 5. 1905.

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5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

-PATBNTED JULY 16, 1907.

J. J. PUTNEY. COMBINED POTATO GUTTER AND PLANTER.

ArrLIoA'rIox-HLBD DB0. 5,1905.

PATENTBD JULY 16; 1907. J.` J. PUTNBY. COMBINED PoTATo GUTTER ANDPLANTER.

APPLIUATION FILED DO. 5. 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET S.

me :vonnis Pcrsns caA. wAsmNcroN, n4 c.

PATENTED JULY 16, 1907.

J. J. PUTNEY. COMBINED POTATO GUTTER AND PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.5, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1n: Noam: rzrsns ca.. wunmaran. n, c.

PATENTED JULY 16, 1907.

I J. J. PUTNBY. COMBINED PoTATo GUTTER AND PLANTER.

APPLIUATION FILED DBO. 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ms Nam-:rs psrsRs ca., wAsmNaraN. n.1.:

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. PUTNEY, OF STUART, IOWA.

COMBINED POTATO CUTTER AND PLANTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1907.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that JOHN J. PUTNEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stuart, in the county of Guthrie and State of Iowa,-hasinvented a new and useful Combined Potato Cutter and Planter, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in potato cutters and planters.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofpotato cutters and planters, and to protrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out l in the claims, hereto appended; it beingunderstood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minordetails of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resortedto without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invenv tion.

In the drawings z-Figure 1 is a plan view of a potato cutter andplanter, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4is a plan view, the hoppers and the inclined endless conveyers beingremoved. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view takensubstantially on the line 5 -5 of Fig.,4.` Fig. 6 is a detail sectionalview taken substantially on the-line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a reverseplanview of one of the mechanisms for cutting and dropping the potatoes.Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the links of the endlesseonveyers. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the hookshapedpotato carriers. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the kicker.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

1 designates a main frame, having parallel side bars and provided with arear transverse bar 2, which connects the side bars, and which ispreferably formed integral therewith, but the main frame may beconstructed in any other desired manner, as will be readily understood.The side bars, which are also connected at suitable intermediate pointsby transverse bars or n braces, is provided at opposite sides withbearings 3,

for the reception of a transverse shaft or axle 4, to which are securedcombined carrying and covering wheels 5, which are provided with concaveperipheries for covering the potatoes after the same have been droppedinto the furrows, as hereinafter explained. A seat (3 is mounted on therear portion of the main frame for the accommodation of the driver, andsuitable Scrapers 7 are arranged for cleaning the wheels 5. The scrapers7, which have convexly curved edges for engaging the peripheries of thecombined carrying and covering wheels, are mounted on and depend fromthe ends of a transverse shaft or pintle 8, having an arm 9 adapted tobe engaged by the foot of the operator for throwing the Scrapers intoand out of engagement with the wheels 5.

Mounted upon the supporting frame is a main hopper 10, constructed ofsheet metal or other suitable material and extending in rear of thetransverse shaft or axle 4, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 ofthe drawings, and having its front wall 11 inclined at the lower portionfor directing the potatoes towards the back of the hopper l0. The hopper10 is provided with an oppositely-inclined bottom 12, the inclinedportions extending downward and outward from the median line of thebottom for directing potatoes towards lateral openings 13, through whichthe potatoes pass to rear side hoppers 14. The side hopper-s 14, whichare constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material, are securedto the exterior of the main hopper 10, and are arranged at the lowerends of inclined conveyer casings 15, in which operate endless conveyors1G. The inclined conveyer casings or frames are substantiallysemicylindrical and have their upper ends arranged adjacent to a pair offront chutes 17, which receive the potatoes and deliver the same tofront hoppers 18. The endless conveyors 16 consist of endless chains,provided at intervals with hookshaped carriers 19 and arranged on upperand lower sprocket wheels 20 and 21. The links of cach endless conveyeris provided at intervals with projecting eyes 22, which receive pintles23, and the latter also pass through eyes 24 of the hook-shaped carriers19. The hook-shaped carriers may be arranged at any desired intervalsfor feeding the potatoes with the desired rapidity to the chutes at thefront of the machine. The lower sprocket wheels 21 are mounted on thetransverse shaft or axle 4 at opposite sides thereof, and the uppersprocket wheels or pinions are keyed or otherwise secured to an uppertransverse shaft 24, which extends across the front of the machine, andwhich is journalcd in suitable bearings of opposite approximatelyinverted V-shaped standards 25. The inverted V-shaped standards 25consist of upright front bars or portions and inclined rear bars orbraces, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

When the machine moves forward, the rotary movement of the carryingwheels 5 is communicated to the lower sprocket 21, and the conveyor 1Gcarry the potatoes upward from the rear side hoppers and discharge theminto the chutes 17. The chutes 17 extend outward laterally of themachine to the front hoppers 18, and they are provided with inclinedbottom walls for directing the potatoes to the said hoppers 18. The rearwalls of the chutes 17 are provided with suitable slots 26, throughwhich the tines or ngers of th'e hook-shaped carriers pass after theyhave discharged the potatoes. The rear side hoppers are also provided attheir bottoms with openings-for the passage of the ngers or tines of thehook-shaped potato carriers, and vthe bottoms'of the said rear hoppersare preferably formed by means of spaced rods or ngers 14*l suitablysecured at their rear ends to the rear walls of the rear side hoppersand extended forwardly therefrom and curved as shown. These curved rods,which are substantially semi-circular, provide baskets at the bottoms ofthe side hoppers for holding the potatoes. The upper stretch of theinclined conveyer operates in the inclined frame or casing 15, and thehook-shaped carriers move upward in the same, and swing forward at theupper ends of the frame or casing, so that the potatoes are dischargedinto the front chute 17, and the other stretchof each conveyer islocated in advance of and beneath the frame or casing 15.

The front hoppers 18 are arranged between and are supported by a pair offixed transverse bars 27, which are suitably secured to the side bars ofthe supporting frame, and which are provided beyond the same withinwardly extending curved portions 28, located in advance and invrear ofthe front hoppers 18, and riveted or otherwise secured to the same. Thefront hoppers, which are located beyond the side bars of the main frame,are directly in advance of the wheels 5, which cover the potatoes asthey are cut and dropped from the front hoppers. The fixed transversebars 27 are connected adjacent to the side bars of the supporting frameby short longitudinal bars 29, and the front hoppers are braced bydiagonally arranged rods 30 extending outwardly and rearwardly fromthefront ends of the bars 29 tothe inner sides of the front hoppers, asclearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Vithin each front hopper is arranged an annular series of springs 31,inclined downwardly and inwardly and converging towards the center ofthe bottom of the hopper and riveted or otherwise secured at their upperends 32 to the walls of the front hoppers at regular intervals. Thelower free ends of the springs 31 center and form resilient supports fora potato for holding:

the same in position to be cut by knives or cutters 33. The knives 33are carried by a pair of laterally reciprocatable bars 34, which slidebetween upper and lower antifriction rollers 34, see Fig. 3, and thesaid knives consist of upper substantially horizontally disposed curvedportions anddepending vertical portions 35, as clearlyl illustrated inFig. 6 of the drawings. The tubular front hoppers have their lower endsrounded, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and the uppercurved portions of the knives or cutters are adapted to cut a potato inhalf, and the depending vertical portions 35 are adapted to cutvertically and divide the lower half of a potato into quarters.

Beneath each front hopperl is `fairaiiged a substantially rectangularbox or casing 36, which is hung from and supported by a hanger 37,having opposite side portions connected at their inner ends by adepending transverse portion 37 and at their outer ends by an upwardlyextending arm 38, which is adjustably secured to the outer side of theadjacent front hopper. The upwardly extending arm 38 see Fig. 5 of thehanger 37 is provided with a slot through which a bolt 39 passes whichalso pierces the outer sidewall of the front hopper, and which securesthe hanger in its adjustment. The front and rear walls of therectangular box or casing 36 arex provided with substantially U-shapedarms 40, which embrace the side portions of the hanger 37, and which areriveted or otherwise secured to the same. The inner and outer Wallsofthe box or casing 36 are provided with slots 41 and 42 to afford' apassage for the depending vertical portion 35 of the blade or cutter 33,and the upper edges and the inner and outer sides are recessed and`concavely curved to afford a passageway for the upper portion of theknife or cutter and for an outer slide 43, which is located below andspaced from the cutting edge of the upper portion of the knife orcutter. The slide 43, which is curved in cross section, is provided atits outer end with opposite upwardly extending arms or attached portions45, which are slotted at 46 to re- 'ceive bolts 47 for Vsecuring theouter slide 43 to the bars 34 at the desired vertical adjustment.

When the reciprocatory bars move outward, the knife or cutter severs thepotato in half and cuts the lower half into quarters, and on the inwardmovement of the knife, the outer slide enters the upper slot 42 of thebox or casing and supports the upper half of the potato, which dropsupon the outer slide 43, and which is divided into quarters by thevertical portion 35 of the knife at the next succeeding outward movementthereof. The lower portion'of the rectangular box or casing is dividedinto two compartments or spaces by means of a transverse partition 48,which receives two portions or quarters cut by the lower dependingportion o the knife or cutter.

When it is desired to drop one quarterof a potato in each hill, thequarter or portion within one of the compartments is supported andretained therein during the outward movement of the knife or cutter byan inner slide 49, extending through slots 50 and 51 of the transverseportion 37L of the hanger and theinner wall of the box or casing 36. Theslide, which consists of a horizontal blade, is provided at its innerend with an upwardly extending arm 52, which is secured to one of thereciprocatory bars 34. When the knife or cutter is at the limit of itsoutward movement, one of the spaces or compartments of the box or casing36 is open, and the other is closed at the bottom by the slide 49. Thisconstruction permits one quarter of a potato to be dropped at eachoutward movement of the knife or cutter, and as the inner slide 49 iswithdrawn by the inward movement of the knife or cutter, a secondquarter is dropped during such inward movement.

When it is desired to drop two portions of a potato in each hill, theinner slide 49 is detached by removing the bolt 53, which secures theinner slide to the front of the transverse bar 34. When thesubstantially T-shaped knife or cutter 33 is employed for dividing apotato into quarters, a quarter is dropped during both the inward andoutward movements of the knife or cutter, but the cutting is affectedonly by the out- Ward movement. The substantially T-shaped knife isdetachably secured to the reciprocatable bars by bolts or other suitablefastening devices, and if desired, the T-shaped knife may be detached topermit a knife to be employed for cutting the potatoes into halves'.When such knife is employed, the partition 48 of the box will also beremoved and one-half of a potato will be dropped at each movement of thereciprocatable support formed by the bars 34.

In order to prevent a potato from adhering to the outer slide, a kicker54, see Figs. 7 and l() is employed. The kicker 54 consists of a bellcrank lever composed of a pair of arms and fulcrumed at its angle on thehanger 37 by a bolt 55 or other suitable fastening device. The inner armof the kicker is provided with a depending substantially quadrant-shapedlug or flange 56 for engagingr a potato, and the outer arm is providedwith an upwardly extending pin 57, which is arranged in the path of apair of resilient cams 58 and 59. The cam 58 consists of a substantiallysemi-circular spring Secured at one end to one of thereciprocatablebars34 and presenting a curved face to the pin 57 for swinging thekicker outward. The other cam 59 consists of a spring extendinglongitudinally of and spaced from the adjacent bar 34, and having acurved terminal portion located close to and spaced from the cam 58 andarranged to engage the pin 57 for moving the kicker inward. The otherend 60 of the resilient cam 59 is angularly bent and is secured to thebar 34. The kicker dislodges the potato should it adhere to the outerslide as the same leaves the box or casing 36. As the inner slide iswithdrawn through a slot in the inner wall of the box or casing 36, thepotato is positively discharged from such slide. `The reciprocatablebars are also connected by a central plate or piece 6l, having adepending pivot 62, which is arranged in a slot 63 of a longitudinallydisposed vibratory lever 64, fulcrumed at an intermediate point andhaving its rear end engaged by a cam wheel 65. The lever 64 is mountedon a cone bearing 66, which is secured to a transverse bar 67, and whichis supported by a transverse brace 68, secured to the bar 67 at thecentral portion thereof. The cam wheel is provided with a peripherallyarranged camway 69, extending back and forth over the periphery of thecam Wheel and from one side of the same to the other and formed bydetachable flanges 70, having out wardly extending perforated attachmentportions for the reception of bolts or other suitable fastening devicesfor securing the flanges to the periphery of the wheel. The flanges areadapted to be detached to enable other flanges to be secmed to the wheelto vary the rapidity of the reciprocation of the vibrator-y lever 64 forcontrolling the speed of the cutting and dropping mechanism and toregulate the distance between the hills. The cam Wheel is suitablysecured to the transverse `shaft or axle, and it is provided with aclutch face or member 69u, which is engaged by a slidable springactuated clutch or member 70, mounted on the shaft or axle and engagedby a key or feather 7l. When the slidable clutch section is inengagement with the clutch section or face of the cam wheel, motion willbe communicated from the axle to the cutting and dropping mechanism. Theslidable clutch section is provided with a groove, and is engaged by aforked front end 72 of a shifting lever 73, which` is fulcrumed at 74 ona bracket or support 75, and which has its rear end 76 arranged to beengaged by an inclined operating lever 7 6, fulcrumed at its lower end77 on the supporting frame of the machine and having a lower shortupright portion for engaging the shifting lever. The upper portion ofthe operating lever is inclined and is arranged within easy reach of theoperator. When the operating lever is swung to the right from theposition shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the shifting lever will carrythe sliding clutch section 70L out of engagement with the clutch sectionor face of the cam wheel, and thereby stop the cutting and droppingmechanism. As soon as the operating lever 76 is released, the coiledspring 78 will move the slidable clutch section toward the cam wheel andcarry it into engagement with the clutch face or section thereof.

The potatoes drop from the box or casing 36 into a tube 79, Awhichdelivers the potatoes between an upper pair of wings 80, and the latterare located above the sides or wings 8l of a furrow opener 82. Themachine is provided at its front with a pair of furrow openers, whichare in the form of curved runners, and which are secured at their' frontends to a transverse bar 83. The wings 80, which are connected at theirfront ends, are provided with an arm or shank 84, which has its upperend forked and which is secured to a transverse bar 85. The transversebar 85, which is located in rear of the transverse bar 83, is rigid withthe same, and is connected with the said bar 83 by substantiallyV-shaped braces 86. The bars 83 and 85 are centrally secured to the rearportieri of a draft beam or tongue 86, and a longitudinally disposed bar87 is secured at its front portion to the transverse bars 83 and 85. Thebar 87 extends in rear of the draft beam or tongue and forms an arm,which is connected by a link 88 with an arm 89 ofa transverse rock-shaft90. The transverse rockshaft 90, which is journaled in suitable bearingsof the main or supporting frame of the machine, is provided at one sideof the same with an upwardly extending op erating arm or level' 9l,terminating in a grip or handle, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. The operating arm or lever 91 is provided with aspring-actuated dog or detent 92, arranged to engage a toothed segment93 controlled by a latch lever 94 arranged adjacent to the handle orgrip of the operating arm or lever 92. The toothed segment is suitablysecured to the adjacent side bar of the main or supporting frame of themachine. The front end portions 95 of the side bars of the main orsupporting frame are depressed substantially semi-circular and extenddownward, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the front ,ends ofthecurved portions are pivoted by bolts 96 to eyes 97 of the fronttransverse bar 83. By this construction, the furrow openers arepivotally connected with the front of the main or supporting frame, andare adapted to be raised or lowered to arrange the machine either fortraveling or planting. When the furrow openers are raised from theground, the wings and the tube 79 are' also carried upward, and the tubeis of suflicient size to receive and clear the depending box or casing36. 'lhe toothed segment and the spring actuated detent of the operatingarm or lever of the rock-shaft locks the furrow openers in theiradjustment.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is1

l. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a mainhopperl provided with lateral outlets, conveyers located at oppositesides of the main hopper and extending from the said outlets, fronthoppers arranged to receive from the conveyers the material to beplanted, and

vmechanism arranged at the front hoppers for controlling the dischargeof the material.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with fronthoppers and dropping mechanism, of a main hopper having outlets, andconveyors extending from the outlets for delivering the material to thefront hoppers.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with fronthoppers and dropping mechanism, of a main hopper having lateral outlets,side hopper-s located at the said outlets, and conveyers extending fromthe said side hoppers to the front hoppers. A

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with fronthoppers, and droppingmechanism, of a main hopper having lateral outletsand provided with an oppositely inclined bottom for directing thecontents of the main hopper to the said outlets, rear side hopperslocated at the outlets, and means for conveying the material from therear hopper-s to the front hoppers.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with fronthoppers, and dropping mechanism, of a main hopper located in rear of thefront hoppers and provided with outlets, rear side hoppers located atthe outlets, inclined endless conveyers extending from the rear hoppersto the front hoppers, and inclined conveyer frames or casings receivingthe upper stretches of the endless conveyers.

(i. In a machine of the class described, the combination with fronthoppers, and dropping mechanism, of a main hopper located in rear of thefront hoppers and having outlets, rear side hoppers located at theoutlets, and inclined endless conveyers extending from the rear hoppersto the front hoppers and provided with hook-shaped carriers.

7. In a machine ot' the class described, the combination with fronthoppers, and dropping mechanism, of a main hopper located in rear of thefront hoppers and having outlets, rear side hoppers located at theoutlets, and inclined endless conveyers extending from the rear hoppersto the front hoppers and provided with hook-shaped carriers having aplurality of spaced tines or fingers 8. In a machine of the .classdescribed, the combination with front hoppers, and dropping mechanism,of rear hoppers, inclined conveyors extending from the rear hoppers, andchutes arranged to receive the contents of the con- .veyers fordelivering the same to the front hoppers.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with fronthoppers, and dropping mechanism, of a main hopper located in rear of thefront hoppers and provided with lateral outlets, rear side hoppersarranged at the outlets, inclined conveyers extending forward from therear hoppers, and chutes arranged to receive the contents of theconveyers for delivering the same into the front hoppers.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a mainhopper, rear side hoppers, conveyers extending forwardly from the rearside hoppers, front hoppers, laterally reciprocatable knives for cuttingthe potatoes, and means for controlling the discharge of the severedportions of the potatoes.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopperprovided with interiorly arranged resilient supports arranged to hold apotato, a horizontally reciprocatable knife located below the supportsand movable through the hopper for cutting the potato, and means foroperating the knife.

l2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, aseries of springs arranged within the hopper and having downwardlyconverging portions arranged to support a potato, a horizontallyreciprocatable knife or cutter located below the support, and means foroperating the knife or cutter.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series ofdownwardly converging springs, secured at their upper ends within thehopper and having lower free ends forming a yieldable support for apotato and arranged located below the springs and movable through thehopper, and means for operating the knife or cutter.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, arcciprocatable substantially T-shaped knife arranged to divide a potatointo halves and to simultaneously cut one of such halves into quarters,and means for supporting the undivided half of the potato and forsuccessively dropping the quarters of the divided half.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, areciprocatable knife having approximately horizontally and verticallydisposed portions for dividing a potato into halves and for cutting oneof the halves into quarters, and opposite slides movable with the knifeand arranged to support the undivided half of the potato and one of thequarters.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, aknife having approximately horizontal and vertical portions, a'nd innerand outer supporting means movable with a knife and arranged to receiveportions of a potato, whereby the cut portions of a potato will bedropped at intervals.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, areciprocatable knife provided with means for cutting a potato in halfand for simultaneously dividing one of the 'halves of the same, an outerslide located beyond the knife and movable with the same for supportingthe undivided half of the potato, and an inner slide located below theknife and movable with the same for supporting a portion of the dividedhalf of the potato.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, acasing located beneath the hopper and provided with separatecompartments, a reciprocatable knife provided with means for cutting apotato in half and for dividing one of the halves into quarters, anupper slide arranged to support the undivided half of the potato, and alower slide operating below the knife and movable into and out of one ofthe compartments of the casing for supporting one of the portions of thedivided half of the potato.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, aknife for cutting a potato, a support movable with the knife andarranged to receive a portion of the potato, and means for positivelydislodging such portion of the potato from the support.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, aknife for cutting a potato, a support movable with the knife andarranged to receive a portion of the potato, and an automaticallyoperable kicker for positively dislodging the potato from the support.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, aknife for cutting apotato, a support movable with the knife and arrangedto receive a portion of the potato, a pivotally mounted kicker having anarm arranged to dislodge apotato from the said support, and means forautomatically oscillating the kicker.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, areciprocatable knife for dividing a potato, a support movable with theknife for holding a portion of the potato, a pivotally mounted kickerarranged to dislodge the potato from the support, and reciprocatablemeans movable with the knife for automatically operating the kicker.

23. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, areciprocatable knife for dividing a potato, a support movable with theknife for holding a portion of the potato, a pivotally mounted kickerarranged to dislodge the potato from the support, and reciprocatablecams movable with the knife for automatically operating the kicker 2-l.In a machine ofthe class described, the combination of a hopper', areciprocatable knife for dividing a potato, a support movable with theknife and arranged to hold a portion of the potato, apivotally mountedkicker arranged to dislodge the potato from the support and providedwith a projecting portion, a substantially semi-circular cam arf rangedto engage the projecting portion for moving the kicker' in onedirection, and a cam spaced from the said cam and curved to move theprojecting portion of the kicker l /in the opposite direction.

to center the same within the hopper, a knife or cutter 25. In a machineof the class described, the combination of a hopper, a reciprocatableknife for dividing a potato, a support movable with the knife andarranged to hold a portion of the potato, a pivotally mounted kickereonsisting of a lever having opposite arms, one of the arms beingprovided With a pin, a substantially semicircular cam movable with theknife and arranged to engage the pin to swing the kicker in onedirection, and a spring also movablewith the knife and secured at oneend, the other end of the spring being free and curved to engage thepin.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, ahanger secured to the hopper and having spaced sides, a box or casingsupported by the hanger and located beneath the hopper and spaced fromthe same, a reciprocatable knife operating in the space between thehopper and the casing, a slide spaced from the knife a'nd also operatingin the space between the hopper and the casing, and means for operatingthe slide.

27. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, acasing located beneath and supported by the hopper, reciprocatable bars,a knife carried by the reciprocatable bars and operating in the spacebetween the hopper and the casing, and a slide also mounted on the barsand carried by the same.

28. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, acasing located beneath and supported by the hopper, reciprocatable bars,a knife carried by the reciprocatable bars and operating in the spacebetween the hopper, and the casing and a slide provided with oppositearms adjustably secured to the reciprocatable bars.

29. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hopper, areciprocatable knife, a slide movable with the knife and curved in crosssection, and an automatically operable kicker provided with a flange orlug having a curved edge arranged contiguous to the slide.

30. In a machine of the class described, the combination of oppositelioppers, reeiprocatable bars, knives carried by the bars, anoscillatory lever connected with the bars, and a cam wheel provided withdetachable cam flanges ar ranged in spaced relation to receive the saidlever and adapted to be detached to permit other ilanges to be used forvarying the movement of the lever.

81. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a mainframe, a movable frame pivotally connected with the main frame at thefront of the machine and provided with a centrally arranged rearwardlyextending inclined arm, a draft beam or pole fixed to the movable framefurrow openers carried by the movable frame, a rock-shaft having an arm,a link connected with the arm of the rock-shaft, and means for adjustingthe rock-shaft.

32. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a main frameprovided with side bars having forwardly projecting depressed portions,a movable frame provided with runners and hinged at its front to thefront end of the forwardly projecting depressed portions of the saidside bars, a draft beam or pole fixed to the movable frame, alongitudinal bar secured at its front portion to the movable frame at apoint beneath the draft beam or pole and extending rearwardly from thesaid movable frame, and operating mechanism mounted on the main frameand connected with the rear end of the longitudinal bar.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoatlixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN J. PUTNEY.

Witnesses I-I. W. Moneum', JOHN BALL.

